So, you're connected to a slew of people on LinkedIn, Facebook, Plaxo, Twitter, and Tumblr...
Great.
Now, how do you nurture these relationships?
There's not one answer, but I'll share something I do.
Invest in the conversations started by others via status updates/blogs.
I make a point of being part of the 1 percent rule. When I find a post that I like, I take the time to comment on it or I cite it on one my blogs (like I am citing Andy Sernovitz's guidelines of The wrong way to comment on blogs).
Or, I respond via Twitter using the @username reply.
Or send a message via FB looking for clarification on a status update.
Let me be clear. As Andy suggested in his post on blog comments, I make a point of adding value to the conversation and engaging with the author, not just an "empty" touch for the sake of a checkmark exercise.
That is critical.
I don't respond/inquire to all of them. It's a genuine reach.
Cultivating your network can be deliberate. It just need be genuine.